After Aang and Ty Lee leave, Sokka arrives, here to tell Katara about a "big scene" at the water tribe house. While he does appear to be talking up what he saw, it's yet another one of those big moments that take place offscreen because the first person narrator didn't see it happen, not unlike most of the Final Battle.
After sitting down next to Suki and showing off his cast and crutches, Sokka gets right into the story, explaining that Dr. Yang stopped by that morning to give him the crutches and checked on how the cast was setting. As Dr. Yang talked with Hakoda, everything seemed to be going well until someone named Nukka remarked that Sokka was lucky to have a "hot fire nation nurse" waiting on him. This results in Dr. Yang scolding them, saying that she's a doctor, not a nurse, she did not study for 10 years to be called by the wrong title, and demands that the men set a better example for their tribe by respecting women.
Sokka says Katara isn't the only woman who wants to give the men a piece of her mind (Incidentally, what happened with the pile of clothes Katara left behind?). Katara already knows this, but is glad to hear it and thanks Sokka. Sokka also mentions that Dr. Yang considers Katara smarter than five of the menfolk together, which pleases Katara, since Dr. Yang rarely says anything nice to her face. I've noticed that many fictional characters tend to save their most heartfelt compliments for when those they spoke of won't hear them. Sokka recalls that Dr. Yang mentioned what she taught about Katara, as part of an argument of her nation's medicine's superiority (which Sokka seems to believe), causing Hakoda to worry about Katara's career choice as Dr. Yang's apprentice and want another talk with her (one would think that he would see it as an opportunity to obtain some of their former enemy's knowledge). Katara's understandably not thrilled, but realizes that it's not as bad as talking about Zuko, since she can use her studies of menstruation as a conversation stopper.
Sokka and Suki leave to be romantic together, resulting in Katara finally being alone with Zuko. Zuko asks Katara about her following him, and Katara confesses that she did it because she was worried about him, but couldn't follow him into the building. Zuko says that the safeguards are to keep non-firebenders out for their own safety, and give firebenders a safe place to train. He'd gone there to have a fiery tantrum, and ended up finding Aang. That's yet another thing Katara already knows, and when Zuko asks whether Katara was eavesdropping, she says she overheard a conversation. Zuko says he tells her everything, so she doesn't need to do that so much, and asks her if Aang's right.
As optimistic as she usually is, Katara's hesitant to agree, acknowledging that being Fire Lord will be difficult, and looking on the bright side is overly simplistic. Katara then suggests that Zuko could tell Iroh if he didn't want it, but Zuko says that it's no longer about what he wants.
Zuko and Katara have a conversation with their eyes about their desires, and have a tender moment. Zuko is about to say what he wants when Hakoda arrives "ruin(ing) the moment like a giant moment ruiner." Hakoda wanted to find Katara to talk with her about something, and Katara protests, but the damage has been done.
Hakoda talks with Zuko, and tries and fails to get him to not call him "sir," because Zuko sees through Hakoda's attempts to be "a cool dad," and so calls him "Sir Hakoda," making him sound like a knight. (I can only imagine how it would have gone if Hakoda had been Katara's mother, since "ma'am" is somewhat controversial, as it's not always well received).
Hakoda asks what they were in the middle of, and instead of saying that she was trying to give Zuko advice, Katara says "healing," a bad answer given poorly enough that it sounds like a question. Zuko tries to back her up, but lacking the skill to do so, only makes it seem more suspicious, and results in Hakoda asking for a "man to man" conversation with him.
Katara has "a panicked look" and says that she and Zuko are going for a healing session in her room, knowing that her father won't intrude into her "lady space," much like he never intruded into her and Gran Gran's room. Katara lets off a sigh of relief, and sees Zuko shirtless. Katara's pleased enough at the site to have a "pervy moment" that momentarily distracts her from the obvious question of why Zuko felt the need to take off his shirt. Zuko evidently believed Katara's lie, so she disabuses him of that notion. Zuko, embarrassed, puts his shirt back on, and Katara regrets getting him to do that.
Katara's mind gets back to the business at hand, and she freaks out about how embarrassing her father will be. Zuko reassures her that it won't be that bad, and Katara's reminded of her plan to escape this by focusing on how he wants to talk about Dr. Yang, and going off on a rant about sexism, thereby pre-empting him. Zuko says he wouldn't mind such a talk, since Hakoda wants it and it might be better to get it over with. Katara's touched by the offer, and another tender moment ensues, but Hakoda interrupts again, and he's apparently joined by Toph and Iroh, in what seems like an embarrassing convention. Katara and Zuko stay quiet in hopes of making them go away, but Toph asks for Zuko, since they're looking for Zuko and Toph's sure Katara knows where he is. Hakoda points out that he's probably in the room with Katara, and Iroh says he doesn't want to interrupt Zuko while he's entertaining a lady friend.
This scene feels more awkward than funny. Perhaps it's awkward by nature, but it was more so than it was meant to be.
Zuko protests how Iroh makes everything sound tawdry. Iroh's surprised to find Zuko and asks to talk with him. Zuko says yes, and leaves for an awkward conversation of his own, with them going to Iroh's "office."
Hakoda readies for his awkward talk with Katara, while Toph waits to insinuate things, but Aang and Ty Lee show up, interrupting it. After adjusting her cleavage and flirting with Hakoda, a man over twice her age, she shoves Aang toward Katara, and tells him to do things as they practiced, and leaves before Katara has any idea what she was talking about.
Katara asks Aang what that was all about, and Aang says that Ty Lee was trying to "help," as, nearby, Ty Lee apparently apologizes to Toph, and Toph's acceptance causes Ty Lee to glomp her.
It soon becomes clear that Aang has approached Katara on similar business, and after having her sit down, he bows low, says that Katara's right and he's sorry about leaving her. He asks for her forgiveness, saying that he understands her anger, has learned that he can't get his way all the time, and will try to listen more in the future.
Katara notices that it's sincere and heartfelt, and neither the fact that it sounds like a rehearsed speech nor Aang's needing Ty Lee's encouragement (with Katara noticing that Ty Lee has practice in apologizing), detract from either. Katara says Aang is forgiven, noting that she can't be angry at Aang for long, and is glad that he's indicating that he's listening to her, even if he doesn't agree. She doesn't apologize for her earlier rant, in spite of suggesting that she was overly hard on him earlier, and that now would have been a good time to do so. Generally, when two people have an argument, and make up afterwards, each needs to make some degree of apologies and concessions, and I don't see any of that on Katara's part here.
Katara opens the door to see Ty Lee, Toph and Hakoda. Ty Lee's closer to Hakoda than Katara would like, but Katara doesn't comment on that, nor does she comment on how they were obviously eavesdropping. Ty Lee's touched by Aang's apology to Katara, while Toph is annoyed with her.
Toph's turn for an apology comes (which is "different and much longer" than Katara's), as does Katara's turn to eavesdrop. Aang apologizes for not listening to Toph, for putting her in danger (which can only mean by sparing Ozai), and for leaving with his fangirls rather than listen to Toph. He also promises to listen more to Toph, and not choose fangirls over friends. Toph gradually accepts the apology, going from making sarcastic comments and kicking Aang to affectionately punching him.
Aang is progressing toward the end of the second type of character bashing. He earns Katara's forgiveness for apologizing for something that wasn't his fault (because the author thinks he should), regrets not killing Ozai (when not killing is an important part of his beliefs), and gives up the love that he had for Katara in favor of Ty Lee (I'm not against the Second Love trope, but Aang's feelings are important to him for a large part of the show). As nice as it is to see that Katara has forgiven Aang, it's sad to see what he had to give up in order to obtain it.
Once again, while the Grand Finale, and Aang's solution to his problem are controversial, (someone even posted Aang's solution as a What an Idiot moment apparently because he/she didn't like it, given how much of a stretch the example was, even in an ill-defined trope such as What An Idiot), it fits better in the course of the show. The series is about Aang's having to master the four elements in a short amount of time, end a century long war and restore balance to the world, all of which he accomplishes by thinking of new solutions, not about constantly criticizing and shaming him for his various shortcomings and mistakes, in particular calling his victory over Ozai an example of the latter.
But that's enough about it for now, at least until the author starts harping on this again.
Ty Lee suggests that as friends, they celebrate by having rice pudding with mangoes. Katara consents, and they sit on the veranda doing that while Ty Lee talks about how great it is that they're friends again. Hakoda continues to try to get Katara's attention, so Katara pretends to be interested in Ty Lee's speech to get him to shut up, while Toph openly insults Ty Lee's speech by making faces. Eventually, Hakoda gives up, not because he's getting Katara's hints, but because he saw Bato in Fire Nation clothing. Hakoda tries to follow him, even though Katara discourages it, knowing Hakoda won't like what he finds. Unfortunately, Katara's insistence that it can't be that bad falls flat. Hakoda has known Bato like a brother for his whole life, so Bato's secretiveness and absence every night worries him. Clearly, the only thing that can distract Hakoda from someone close to him apparently starting a relationship with a Fire Nation person is someone else close to him apparently starting a relationship with someone from the Fire Nation.
As Katara returns, Toph's happy to see her, and as Ty Lee and Aang go to see a sunset on Appa(as well as talk about double rainbows, lion turtles and other things with enthusiasm that Katara thought impossible until now), it becomes very clear that it's about them. Toph sardonically notes that Aang and Ty Lee are getting along well, complaining about Aang has become infatuated with someone he's just met. Katara asks if Toph's jealous, and gets whacked with a spoon. Katara then goes on to honestly say that Ty Lee has made Aang very happy, is sweet albeit ditzy, and got Aang to apologize. The latter is especially important; having played her role in one part of the author's agenda, Ty Lee plays an even more important role by ensuring Aang stays away from Katara.
Katara's especially glad for the apology, which is what she wanted from Aang so that they can be friends again (or at least, what the author defines as friends, if Katara continues to walk on eggshells around Aang while tolerating him at best). Toph shares Katara's desire, but isn't as sure that Aang's sincere, since he went off with a Fangirl again; when Katara says she's a Genki Girl, she gets whacked again.
As it gets dark, they put their feet up on the table, and hear another argument about whether Zuko or Iroh will be Fire Lord ,with Katara reiterating that Zuko shouldn't do it if he doesn't feel ready. Toph, however, says that Zuko may not have a choice, and recalls when she and "Uncle" (what she calls Iroh) looked for Zuko in the harbor, where he used to run off. Iroh explained Fire Nation politics, and convinced Toph that he would eventually get Zuko to agree to it.
Toph is right, and Iroh calls for a celebration of Zuko becoming Fire Lord, even though Katara notices that Zuko's in no mood to celebrate after such a tiring day, so they have "a quite night in- with champagne."
They all get glasses, but Toph only gets five sips, so that while she isn't left out, she doesn't get drunk like Aang did.
JJ and Piandao join the celebration, as does Aang after dropping off Ty Lee with the Kyoshi warriors, as well as Sokk and Suki. With Lenka making canapes and Mina lighting lanterns, it's turning into a party and the balcony's getting crowded. The guest of honor, Zuko, is not enjoying it, since no one listened to his request regarding the nature of the celebration.
Zuko confesses to Katara that he's dreading being Fire Lord, something he accepted due to thinking that he had no other choice. Katara says that it could be "great," but Zuko says that as a young Fire Lord, he'll be "eaten" by the court, and the military's worse. Zuko adds that the government must be overhauled for peace time, and while the lower classes will get behind him so they won't be used as Cannon Fodder, the nobles will make things hard for him.
Zuko's concerns are reasonable, but they seem more at home in a series like A Song of Ice and Fire (or Game of Thrones) than ATLA. Robb Stark's downfall was arguably as much due to being young and inexperienced as it was the result of him, breaking a marriage pact for a girl he got pregnant(book)/fell in love with(TV).
Katara doesn't think Zuko should be this negative from the get-go, since a negative perspective does nothing to help him solve these problems, so Katara thinks deeper about what positive things she heard. She recalls the party, (where, as she points out, she found out about Zuko's scar so long ago), with so many people retiring because they thought Ozai was a terrible leader and the war claimed too many lives, and would perhaps be open to Zuko and peace. Katara concludes that it's difficult, but not impossible, and Zuko does have allies and supporters, which cheers him up.
Piandao comes over to offer Zuko a toast, noting that congratulations are in order, prompting Zuko to say "so everyone tells me" in response, causing Piandao to borrow Zuko with Katara's permission, so long as he returns him.
Piandao leads Zuko to the garden, and Katara listens in. Zuko suspects Iroh put Piandao up to this, and insists that since he did what Iroh wanted, he doesn't need a talk. Piandao says Iroh didn't send him, leaving Zuko at a loss for words, which typically happens when you dismantle the assumptions someone's operating under.
Piandao realizes Zuko's worried, but says that Zuko has courage, causing Zuko to anticipate the speech about cowardice and not loving. Piandao says he isn't going to say it this time, in spite of his fondness for it, and Zuko having heard it many times.
Piandao asks why he decided to teach Zuko, and Zuko incorrectly guesses that it's because he was a prince- Piandao points out that he turned down Zuko three times because of that. Piandao says that he chose Zuko because he kept coming back no matter how many times or how rudely he was refused, put up with a great deal, did whatever Piandao asked of him and could accomplish any task. Piandao says that Zuko's refusal to give up makes him extraordinary, and is why Piandao considers him the best choice for Fire Lord.
Zuko's deeply touched by this, smiling for the first time and bowing his head to Piandao, prompting Piandao to tell him that as Fire Lord, he bows to no one. Piandao leaves Zuko in a much better mood.
The story part of this chapter ends here, with the "theme" of this quarter of the chapter being people resolving to face things that they've been procrastinating or outright refusing to face, with mixed success. I'll cover the author's note in the next part.
What I liked
- Perhaps finally, the issue of Aang's actions during the Grand Finale will be put to rest.
- Katara siding with Aang regarding optimism.
What I didn't like
- Zuko angsts without anyone doing much to convince him at first.
- Katara stepping in to give an improved version of some of the rare useful advice that Aang gives.
- Rather awkward humor about awkward moments.
- Aang essentially giving up on his ideals and his relationship with Katara after a great deal of humiliation as the author's way of giving him Character Development.
